Fruit container



E. H. PETERS FRUIT CONTAINER Jan. 16, 1934.

Filed Jan. 28, 1933 35mm Fugenefffzem W Patented Jan. 16, 1934 PATENT QFFICE FRUIT CONTAINER Eugene H. Peters, Benton Harbor, Mich.

Application January 28, 1933.

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fruit or vegetable containers, baskets or packages, and it is an object of the invention to provide a basket construction which affords better protection to the contents while being shipped, handled or when being stored than baskets of the said type now used, as well as to reduce time, labor and expense in packing and to combine different materials and methods to cheapen the cost of production. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a basket having a convex cover or lid adapted to be set-in in the outer part of the container and which not only reenforced the side walls of the container against side pressure but is so secured, designed and constructed that the filled basket may be stacked without damage to the contents from rim cutting, bruising or otherwise.

A still further object is to provide a basket having a lining which may be inverted and secured to the top serving as a packing element without the necessity of using a packing form or facing forms, and which permits the racing of the contents before the packing element is filled, If desired.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which is made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container in assembled condition,

Figure 2 a center sectional view of the cont'ainer,

Figure 3 an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the bottom edge construction, and

Figure l an enlarged detail section of a portion or the upper edge of the container.

In the drawing reference numeral 10 indicates the body portion of the container provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinal staves 11 connected by means of hoops 12 and 13 at their ends and connected between by one or more similar hoops I l. The hoops may be secured to the staves by means of nails or staples 15. A hoop 16 is secured to the inner surface of the staves 11 opposite the lower hoop 13 forming a shoulder on which a bottom 17 is secured in any suitable manner. Handles 18 diametrically positioned are provided, each being formed of a piece "of wire, the ends of which extend through the upper hoop 12 and staves 11 and are clinched. The center portion projects upwardly above the top surface of the hoop 12 forming the hand grip. Thus a skeleton form is provided in which a lining 19 may be inserted. It may be understood that the body character or construction suitable for the pur- Serial No. 654,059

pose and not limited to the form just described. The lining 19 is provided with a plurality of open-. ings 20 for ventilating purposes and each end is bound by a re-enforcing element 21 of any material suitable for the purpose. The lining is preferably form d of waterproof paper but may be formed of any other suitable material and is of a sufiicient height for the top edge to. project above the hoop 12. Openings or loops 22 are provided in the lining 19 opposite the handles 18 for a purpose which will be later described.

A lid 23 formed of a plurality of curved slats 24 secured at their centers by a pin 28 forms a convex enclosing member bulged at the center a distance equal to the width of the hoop 25. A slat 26 is slidably mountedat its center on the pin 28 in slot 27 and is so positioned that the ends are adapted to project through the openings 22 in the lining and the handles 18 on each side of the body portion to secure the lid in place. If desired a loose slat may be used in lieu or" the one just described or any other suitable method that may be used. The lid 23 is further provided with a lining 29 of any suitable material perforated for ventilation at 31. When secured in place it may be readily seen as in Figure 2 that the lid 23 is positioned within and below the top oi the hoop 12 and the ends of the retaining slat 26 rest on top of the hoop 12. This construction permits the weight of other containers stacked thereon to rest on the rim rather than on the top itself, as is usually the case in other containers, thus preventing bruising or crushing the top layer of the contents of the container. The lid being below the rim prevents rocking and tipping when the containers or packages are stacked, as is the case with other convex or crown covers sitting on top. With the convex cover or lid enclosed Within and below the top of the container in the manner just described it serves as a ice-enforcing member to the body portion and cannot be displaced by lateral or side pressure thus further preventing injury to the contents from side crushing and rim cutting. The convex shape of the cover forms a convex face to the contents which is very desirable and maintains the contents in their packed position. The convex shape of the cover also gives greater resistance to downward pressure than do flat lids or covers as now used. The curved strips 24 cannot come off due to pressure of the contents from within when the convex lid is secured in place, since the strips are secured at their ends to the under side of the rim or hoop 25. The features just mentioned relative to the convex cover are very essential to good handling of fruits and other products in such containers without damage. It may be understood that the lining and cover must conform to the design or shape of the body portion. The construction of the lining 19 is such that it may be inverted and secured to the cover 23 by means of the slat 26 extending through the openings 22, or otherwise, thus forming a packing element which is an inherent part of the container and without the use of an additional packing cylinder or facer, fruit or vegetables may be packed into it from the bottom. After the packer has been filled the outside container or body portion may be inverted and placed thereon, the slot 26 is then moved to engage the handles 18, or the linings may be placed in the body portion first and then filled, thus it may be seen that this improved basket may be filled from the top if desired, after which a small nail 30 may be driven in the slat to hold it in place.

The three parts, the lining, cover and the outer part are thus secured together to form the complete container. It is readily seen that no rough edges or unclinched staples are on the inside, making it unnecessary to use extra liners or pads to protect the contents.

This container may be made of any suitable material or materials, of any desired size, or shape, and combined in any way to conform to the general spirit and idea of the invention.

It is therefore evident from the above description that a container is provided which affords ample protection to fruit or other products, a saving in time, labor and expense in packing op erations as well as production cost and one in which, due to its particular design and construction, damage to the contents is reduced to a minimum.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in my device without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore I do not limit myself to what is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A container of the kind described comprising a body portion having a flat bottom, a onepiece lining having re-enforcing on the edges thereof adapted to be placed in said body portion, a hoop having a plurality of curved slats secured to the underside thereof positioned within the top of said lining forming a cover member and a slat secured thereto for securing said cover, lining and body portion together, substantially as set forth.

2. A container of the kind described comprising a body portion having a fiat bottom, a one piece lining having re-enforcing on the edges thereof adapted to be placed in said body por' tion, a hoop having a plurality of curved slats secured to the underside thereof positioned within the top of said lining forming a cover member and a slat secured thereto for securing said cover, lining and body portion together, the ends of said slat resting on the top of said body portion to prevent crushing the contents of said container, substantially asset forth.

3. A container of the kind described comprising a body portion having a flat bottom, a lining positioned in said body portion with its top edge projecting above said body portion, said projecting edge being provided with slots therein, a top positioned within and below the top of said lining, a securing member slidably secured to said top, the ends of which project through said slots in said lining and rest on the sides of said body portion to transmit downward pressure to said sides instead of the contents of said container and to hold said cover in fixed position, substantially as set forth.

4. A basket of the kind described comprising a body portion having a flat bottom and slatted sides, a lining positioned within said body portion with the top edge projecting above the sides thereof, said projecting edge being provided with slots therein, a hoop having slats secured to the underside thereof and bent outwardly at their centers forming a cover, and means slidably secured at the center of said cover extending through the slots in said lining for holding said cover in fixed position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a basket of the kind described the combination of a cover comprising a hoop member, curved strips secured to the underside of said hoop and bulged at the center a distance equal to the width of said hoop, and a slat slidably secured at the center adapted to secure said cover in place on said basket, substantially as set forth.

6. In a basket of the kind described the combination of a cover comprising a hoop member, curved strips secured to the underside ofsaid hoop and bulged at the center a distance equal to the width of said hoop, and means for securing said cover in place, substantially as set forth.

'7. A container of the kind described comprising a body portion having a fiat, stationary bottom and slatted sides, a lining having re-enforcing on the edge thereof and perforated for ventilation adapted to be placed in said body portion, a hoop having a plurality of curved slats secured to the underside thereof forming a convex cover member, positioned within and below the top of said lining and body portion, and a slat slidably secured thereto for securing said cover, lining and body portion, together, substantially as set forth.

EUGENE H. PETERS. 

